Kremlin Dismisses Speculation of Putin-Trump Meeting During Upcoming Saudi Visit

On Wednesday, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin does not intend to visit Saudi Arabia, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to travel in the upcoming weeks. The Kremlin also dismissed rumors about a potential meeting between the two leaders during this visit.

Since February, Trump and Putin have engaged in at least two phone conversations, yet they have not met face-to-face. Meanwhile, high-ranking officials from both nations have participated in discussions in Saudi Arabia. On Monday, Trump indicated he might visit the Gulf nation as early as next month.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, «These plans are solely those of the U.S. President and have no connection to Putin.» He further clarified that «Putin currently has no such plans,» and emphasized that there is no scheduled date or location for any potential meeting between the two leaders.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has sought improved relations with Russia and has frequently expressed his desire for a personal meeting with Putin. However, in recent days, the U.S. President hinted at his growing frustration with Russia’s evident reluctance to accept a ceasefire proposal related to Ukraine put forth by the U.S.

Last month, the U.S. conducted separate discussions with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia, revealing that both sides had agreed to suspend attacks on energy facilities. Following this, Russia and Ukraine have each accused the other of breaching the agreement by launching targeted strikes on energy installations.